Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'Schindler's List'
Spielberg Took No Salary For Making The Movie
At the time, making a black-and-white film about the Holocaust wasn't seen as a particularly commercial idea, so the budget for Schindler's List was a relatively lean $22 million. (By contrast, Spielberg's other picture for that year, Jurassic Park, was budgeted at $60 million.)
Adding to the leanness of the Schindler budget was Spielberg's decision not to take a salary for directing the movie. He felt that payment for telling such a story would amount to "blood money":
Let's call it what it is. I didn't take a single dollar from the profits I received from Schindler's List because I did consider it blood money. When I first decided to make Schindler's List I said, if this movie makes any profit, it can't go to me or my family, it has to go out into the world...
Spielberg Warned The ‘Girl In Red’ Not To Watch The Movie Until She Turned 18
One of the film's most haunting scenes involves the little girl in a red coat, whom Schindler sees wandering around while the Krakow ghetto is being liquidated. Although the girl functions narratively as a trigger for Schindler to find his conscience and begin protecting other Jews, Spielberg noted that to him, the girl represents the way the Holocaust was happening in full view of the world, yet little was done to stop it. (Granted, there was a war on, but historians continue to debate the extent to which the Allies could have done more militarily to disrupt the functioning of the death camps.)
The girl was played by Oliwia Dabrowska, who was 3 years old at the time. Spielberg made her promise not to watch Schindler's List until she turned 18. But Dabrowska did not keep this promise, instead watching the movie for the first time at 11. She later admitted this was a mistake: it was more than she could handle at that age, and she found it difficult to process emotionally.
"I was ashamed of being in the movie and really angry with my mother and father when they told anyone about my part,” she said years later. “I kept it secret for a long, long time, though at high school people got to know on the internet."
Watching the film at 18, Dabrowska said she realized “Spielberg was right: I had to grow up into the film.”
Read on: [ranker.com]
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About the same time I saw Shindler's L
t, I also saw Saving Private Ryan. Between the two movies, I developed a very strong and near total distaste for any kind of war.
For someone who grew up watching "Hogam's Heroes" on TV as a kid, it really slapped me with a good dose of reality.
You can't see Shindler's List and not be emotionally affected unless you are some kind of unfeeling sociopath.
snytiger6
Level 9
Nov 11, 2022
5
I wanted to reply to everyone that commented about knowing too much about the Holocaust, but I couldn't. This film tells us that there were people out there that did everything they could and were loved for everything they did.
It's about humanity.
Whenever I hear anyone denying the Holocaust, I want to punch them in the throat.
Then, I want to tie them to a chair and make them watch this film.
I've not done any of that, but I really want to.
KKGator
Level 9
Nov 11, 2022
5
Ryo1:
A shocker!
You monster
@Flyingsaucesir Yeah, so? 
Dammit, I thought it was my job to punch people inna froat. But with the amount of ignorance around, you may need assistance.
I had seen it before, but a few years ago found it on DVD at a thrift store. A customer behind me saw my purchase and said that it was 3 hours too long. The lady running the register was Jewish. I promptly said that it was 4 hours too short. I may not have anything to do with religion, but hate can't be tolerated in any way. What happened is disgusting. It won't change what happened because of our beliefs or lack thereof.
I have nothing but respect for Spielberg. Thank you sir.
BOBdammit
Level 6
Nov 10, 2022
5
I have read so much about this film and for that reason understand a lot of what it was about. Admittedly I have never seen this movie but some day will sit down to watch it. The irony and horror here is that some in the last 6 years want to deny the holocaust all together. This is the ultimate racism of white supremacy and all to our shame.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Nov 10, 2022
3
Ryo1:
This film is a must. It's been shown on TV many times in Britain. You may also catch it on TV in the US.
I have watched once. I battle with wanting to watch again and at the same time not wanting to. You need to watch at least once. It really stir your emotions and how cruel humanity is.
I will never forget the experience of that movie. I was not going to go see it. I had studied the Holocaust in college and had watched a lot of the documentaries that came out around the time that the film was released and I figured I already knew as much as I could handle. My veteran husband, who has PTSD would not go with me anyway. Then I got an invitation from my college professor inviting me to a wine and cheese discussion of the film. I figured if I was going to the discussion I should see the film. So I found a friend who was willing to come see it. When the movie was over and the crowd filed out of the theater, not a word was spoken. It was like everyone was afraid to speak. There was dead silence until we go to the car. I have never had that experience before or since.
MyTVC15
Level 7
Nov 10, 2022
7
I am afraid to see it. I know that’s a lame reason, but there’s so much pain in the world and sometimes it is just nice to escape and watch comedy or something else diverting.
@Jewelee65 We were told about the holocaust in school and afterwards i saw articles and some of the photos and in magazines etc. This horrified me to the extent that I find I do not need to have further reminders of the events to understand the horror of it all. However I feel that we must keep a watchful eye on our own societies lest they stray the same way. Possibly populism is one of the first danger signs.
@Paul_Clamberer ironically, I experienced the same. The pain and confusion that tortured me for years to come haunted me constantly. How humans can treat each other this way is devastating to me. They say some times fear becomes your reality and be with what I see happening now I hope this isn’t the case.
Great movie. It never ceases to amaze me that Holocaust denial is actually a thing.
Flyingsaucesir
Level 8
Nov 10, 2022
7
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